More than Sport: Curlers Reflect on Mental Health, Balance, and Support
October marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a global initiative promoting empathy, understanding, and collective action. Behind the intense competitions, extended seasons, and national expectations are stories from curlers about resilience, connection, and courage.
Finding Strength Through Conversation
For Canada’s Brett Gallant, working with a sports psychologist has become vital to maintaining his mental well-being during high-pressure events.
“When you’re in these kinds of high-pressure events all the time, it’s nice to have some training on how to deal with it. It’s also good to have someone to reach out to if you’re struggling.”
Gallant credits his wife, fellow curler Jocelyn Peterman, for helping him maintain balance.
“She knows the pressures and feelings that come with sport. It’s nice to have people to lean on, to talk to, that’s important.”
Speaking about his team, he emphasized the shared experience of managing stress and anxiety.
“Everyone’s dealing with stresses and anxieties, and we’re learning how to deal with them better. It’s OK to not be perfectly OK.”
Challenges After Beijing 2022
After the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Canada’s Rachel Homan faced one of the most difficult moments in her career, missing out on medal contention by mere millimeters in a mixed doubles event.
Author’s summary: Curlers highlight the importance of mental health support and open conversations to navigate the pressures and challenges of high-level sport.